Dog Dies In Downtown Aurora Apartment Fire: AFD

AURORA, IL — A dog died in an apartment fire that started around 8:58 p.m. Monday in the 300 block of Spring Street, according to Aurora Fire Department officials.

Firefighters were dispatched to the two-story house, subdivided into two apartments, after receiving a call from the first-floor tenant. According to officials, when the tenant came home, their smoke detector was activated, and light smoke was showing in the unit.

Crews did not find fire showing from the house's exterior or visible flames in the building, only heat and smoke damage, officials said. Firefighters extinguished a few hot spots and ventilated the apartment.

When the second-floor tenant arrived home, he found his dog unresponsive and not breathing. Paramedics attempted to resuscitate the animal but were not successful, officials said.

The man told fire crews he had been heating cooking oil but turned off the stove when he left. Officials did not specify what caused the fire.

The second-floor unit was deemed uninhabitable, displacing the 60-year-old occupant who officials said will be staying with family.

No civilians or firefighters were injured in the fire, and the first-floor unit was not affected, crews said.